Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of educational psychologists and speech therapists employed in schools; the cost to the Exchequer thereof; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12654/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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At present, there are 128 psychologists attached to the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, of my Department plus two on career break. Of the 128, some 116 are directly involved in providing the service to schools and 12 carry out management and other duties. The total cost of providing the NEPS service in 2004 was €13.5 million, including the cost of the scheme for the commissioning of psychological assessments, SCPA, administered by NEPS, under which schools currently without a NEPS service can commission assessments from private practitioners in urgent cases. These figures do not include the psychological services provided by the vocational education committees of the city and county of Dublin.

The provision of speech therapists is a matter for my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children.